Abstract: A laminating apparatus includes a first jig having at least one recessed portion, a second jig disposed opposite to the first jig, a step difference portion disposed on the second jig, an elastic sheet disposed on each of the second jig and the step difference portion, and a guide portion spaced apart from the step difference portion and overlapping an edge of the elastic sheet. A width of the step difference portion is greater than a width of the recessed portion of the first.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearer, a transfer-bias power source, an environment sensor, and a controller. The controller controls the transfer-bias power source to change the DC component and the AC component, according to the at least one of temperature and humidity detected by the environment sensor and a duty of the transfer bias. The duty is A/(A+B)×100[%] where A denotes an area on a return-directional side to move toner from the recording sheet back to the image bearer, relative to a center value (Voff) of a maximum value and a minimum value of the transfer bias in one cycle of a waveform of the transfer bias, and B denotes an area on a transfer-directional side to move the toner from the image bearer to the recording sheet, relative to the center value (Voff) in the one cycle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer device contacting the image bearer to form a transfer portion, a transfer bias power source, and a controller. A ratio of a time period of application of the opposite-directional bias to a total time period of one cycle of the AC component of the superimposed bias is greater than 50%. A ratio of a value of the DC component of the superimposed bias output within a region ranging from a leading end of the recording medium to a predetermined length to a value of the DC component of the superimposed bias output outside the region is greater than a ratio of a value of the AC component of the superimposed bias output within the region to a value of the AC component of the superimposed bias output outside the region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a toner image forming device; an intermediate transferor; a primary transfer power source; a secondary transfer nip forming device; and a secondary transfer power source to output a secondary transfer bias. One of two peak values of the secondary transfer bias is a transfer peak value to provide a greater transfer-directional force to move toner from the intermediate transferor toward the recording medium in the secondary transfer nip. An absolute value of the transfer peak value is greater than an absolute value of the primary transfer bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming unit, a nip formation member, a transfer power source, an information acquisition device, and a controller. The information acquisition device acquires specific information that specifies whether a recording sheet as a transfer target of a toner image is an uneven surface sheet having an uneven surface. The controller outputs a bias including a superimposed voltage, in which an alternating current (AC) voltage is superimposed on a direct current (DC) voltage, as a transfer bias from the transfer power source when the specific information acquired by the information acquisition device is not information corresponding to the uneven surface sheet and to output a bias including only the DC voltage as the transfer bias from the transfer power source when the specific information is the information corresponding to the uneven surface sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearers, a transfer bias member, and a power source. When the transfer bias member transfers a color toner image onto a recording sheet, a second peak value of a peak-to-peak of a transfer bias, which is smaller than a first peak value of the peak-to-peak in an electrostatic force to move toner from the image bearers or an intermediate transfer body to the recording sheet, is zero or has a first polarity to generate the electrostatic force in a transfer direction to move toner from the image bearers or the intermediate transfer body to the recording sheet. When the transfer bias member transfers a monochromatic toner image including only black toner onto the recording sheet, the second peak value is zero or has a second polarity to generate an electrostatic force in an opposite direction to the transfer direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image bearer; a transfer device disposed opposing to the image bearer; an opposed device disposed opposing to the transfer device; and a transfer bias power source. The image bearer is disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the transfer device at at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the transfer portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The transfer bias power source cyclically alternates the transfer bias applied to the transfer portion, between a transfer directional bias in a transfer direction to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto the recording medium and a reverse directional bias in a reverse direction of the transfer direction. The transfer bias power source applies the reverse directional bias during a time period longer than 50% of one cycle of the applied transfer bias in the one cycle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias output device and an information receiving device. The transfer bias output device outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed bias composed of an AC bias superimposed on a DC bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between an image bearing member bearing a toner image and a nip forming member, to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. A controller operatively connected to the information receiving device and the transfer bias output device causes the transfer bias output device to change a target output of a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias based on information received by the information receiving device that affects transfer of the toner image and to reduce a target output of the DC bias as the target output value of the peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias increases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.